Gauge for cutting machines



Nov. 21, 1933. T. o. HOWE, JR

GAUGE FOR CUTTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 z 0 ZMA WWW 1% d m W Z Nov. 21, 1933.- I HOWE, JR 1,936,088

GAUGE FOR CUTTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 21, 1933. T. D. HOWE, JR

GAUGE FOR CUTTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1932 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 given piece of material while minimizing the Cir Patented Nov. 21 1933 GUTTING MA'GHINES":

Thorndike D. Howe;- Jlz, Boston .Mass., ,assignor to -Solescope; Incorporated; Boston, Mass., a' corporation .of Massachusetts...

Application September-8, 19322 Serial2No;632,1'36r 11 Claims.

' This invention relat'e's'to a machine'for use in cutting sheet materiaFand 'its'prlncipal object is to enable the manufacturer" to secure'the' maximum number of shap,es; sizes"or figures from a amount of waste or'scrap, andtomake the necessary adjustments whilestill carrying on the cutting. operation. In a more specific embodiment, the invention is concerned with a machine for cutting leather intosuitable 'shapesand' sizes for use as shoe parts, whereby the cutting operation may be carried'out'economicallyat substantially the usual speed, and without waste of the expensive material employed;vv As illustrative of the utility ofthis invention, I shall hereinafter describe it with particular reference to its applicabilityi to thecutting of shoe soles from sole leather, but with; the understanding that the invention is of broader utility."

In the manufacture of cutsoles it is necessary to cut the material with'a's'little waste as possible', sincethe raw material is so expensive, while waste or scrap is of comparatively little value. The pieces of-raw material supplied to the manufacturer are of irregularcontour; varyingin lateral dimensions and thickness; and'often contain defects which mu'st'be avoided, and in these and other respectspresent a dif icult problem to the operator who is'required'tocutas' many commercially acceptable'soles'as possible from each piece of material.

In the manufacture ofthe better grades of sole, only the firmest and m of the hide are employed; C

0st uniform portions ustor'narily each hide is split longitudinally of the backbone, thus forming ,two sides of leather;

The head, belly and leg portions are trimmed away and the remainder of the side, known as a back, is approximately ten feet long and about thirty inches wide, the back having a substantially straight edge along one side while the remaining marginal portion is of irregular contour. method of preparing the cut soles, the back, or a 1 selected portion thereof, is versely by" incisions According to one first stripped transperpendicular to the backbone line, and then eachof these strips is cut or chopped up into shoe soles, thestripbeing of a breadth (measured parallel to thebackbone line) which corresponds t'o'the'length (or'size) of the sole which is to be cut therefrom.

For the greatest economy in the use of the material, the length of each strip, measured from the backbone line tothe bellyed'ge', should closely approximate anintegralmultiple'of the width of the soles'tobe cut therefrom,

but as the'bell'y edge of-"th-e' back or bend is'- irregular (so that the:

transverse width of-*the--material varies) and as the'width oi"the-"sole varies with its lengthor size;' the economical' cutting of the: leather imthe cutter or chopperto determine accurately merely" by inspection," particularly when; as is common, it may-bedsiredtocut the'better part" of a strip,"thatis; its backbone end, into soles of' onewidth-or grade, and the remainder of the strip into" soles of another Moreover, when difierent width or grade widths'are to be I out from the-same -st-ripit -is'- necessary I for the oper ator," either to lay' asid-'a-- partially cut -strip till a more-convenient time, or stop thecuttin'g opera tionand' read-justthe machine for the propersi ze or "width" of the soles" to" remainder'of the-strip:

In my'copendingapplication filed November 4, 1931 I have'discloseda-n appalaws by means ofwhichthe operatormay quicklyand' accurately determine the-number of soles "of different commercial "sizes which may be cutfrom a givenside; so that a-maximum number of'integral' solesof agiven 'widthor'combination of'widths can be cut from-each individual strip; In accordance with the-inventiontherein disclosed; the sideis first stripped into transverse sections, eachof a breadth which corresponds to the length of ashoe soleofa'selectedsize and of a." length (measuredifrom the backbone line' to the bell'y"edge) which closely? approximates the sum of the widths of 'a'p'lurality of integral soles ofa width or widths correspondin'g'to the selected size. These strips 'are'th'en marked to designate the number and width or combination of widths of soles to be cut therefrom.

The present invention provides a' simple and efiicient mechanism for quickly and accurately adjusting or resetting-the stop members" of a blocking or chopping machine in accordance with prearranged indicia operative position of the stop membersrelative to the cut to designate the ter elements so that any desired width or combinationof widths corresponding to a selected or predetermined pattern size may be accurately cut froma strip prepared in accordance with the aforementioned procedure, the adjusting mechanism being operative during thecutting operation and thus avoiding the necessity :of stopping .the'machine in order tomake the requiredadjustment;

I'rr the' drawings: F1811 is a side elevation, of a blockingsor chop.-

volves a' complication-of factors too intricate ion 6.05,

ping machine embodying one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are top plan views showing the adjusting mechanism and relative positions of the stop members and lateral guide;

7 Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the adjusting mechanism and gauge elements;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ad justing mechanism embodying a modified form of gauge members;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the modification shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is an enlarged View of the cooperating scales of the gauge; and

Fig. 1G is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied to the well-known Knox type of chopping or blocking machine which comprises a frame 10 having a bed 11 for supporting a piece of leather or other sheet material 5, and cutting elements including a cutting block disposed in the path of the knives 15 and 16 which are provided with reversely curved cutting edges adapted, by their conjoint action, to cut alternate right and left soles. The knives l5 and 16 are carried by suitable holders 17 and 18 respectively, which are pivotally connected to the frame 10 so that the center lines of the knives coincide. The knives are alternately reciprocated by connecting rods 22 and 23 which are pivotally attached at one end to the holders 1'? and 18, and at their 0pposite ends toeccentrics or cranks 24 and 25 which are rotated at the same speed by a drive shaft and suitable gearing (not shown). A rock shaft 26 journaled in the frame 10 is oscillated at each actuation of the cutting knives by the connecting rod 27 which is driven by the crank 28 operated by suitable gearing (not shown). The rock shaft carries a pair of arms 29 which project over the forward edge of the sheet S and are oscillated by the rock shaft so as to knock each sole downwardly as soon as it is severed, thus preventing any interference with the feeding or cutting of the next sole. The operation of the machine is controlled by the treadle 30 which actuates both a brake and a clutch mechanism of any suitable type.

The bed of the machine is provided with a lat eral guide 33 which is adjustable transversely thereof and cooperates with stop members 34 and 35 to insure the correct positioning of the sheet S relative to the path of the cutters. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the stops 34 and 35 are spaced and aligned so as to engage the salient curve portions of right and left soles, respectively, thus limiting the feeding movement of the sheet S toward the cutters.

The'stops 34 and 35 are carried by slide bars 36 and 37, respectively, which are slidably mounted in guides 38 and 39 integral with the crossbar 40 which is rigidly secured to the frame 10. The opposite ends of bars 36 and 37 are disposed in openings in the yoke 42 which is provided with an adjusting screw 43 and a set screw 44. by means of which the relative positions of the bars 36 and 37 may be varied. A screw shaft 45 is journaled in the yoke 42 and engages a threaded aperture in crossbar 40 intermediate guides 38 and 39. The opposite end of the screw shaft 45 is provided with a hand wheel 46, and spaced collars 4'7 and 48 which engage opposite sides of the yoke 42 and cause the slidebars 36 and 37 and stops 34 and 35 to move simultaneously toward or away from the path of the cutters as the hand wheel 46 is rotated in one direction or the other.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a stationary gauge member, here shown as comprising an elongate scale 50, is disposed along the path of the slide bars 36 and 37 and in cooperative relation to a movable gauge member 51, here shown as a disk fixedly mounted on the screw shaft 45, intermediate the collar 47 and the hand wheel 46, and rotatable and longitudinally movable with both the hand wheel and screw shaft. The gauge member 50 may be clamped or otherwise secured in fixed position to a suitable support, such as the crossbar 40, and is preferably detachably secured thereto by any suitable means, such as screws 55, so as to permit interchangeability with other gauge members according to the particular pattern or style of sole to be cut. Likewise the scale on the gauge member 51 may be detachably secured thereto in a similar manner so as to permit interchangeability.

The scale on the gauge member 50 may be graduatedvin integrals of the difference in width between sets of patterns or different sizes of the same pattern, and lettered or figured in accordance with the custom of the leather trade, while the scale on the gauge member 51 may be graduated in multiples of the widths or pattern sizes corresponding to the graduations on the gauge scale 50 and similarly lettered and/or figured. The graduations on both scales are, of course, proportional to the pitch or feed of the screw shaft 45 and may vary in accordance with the particular pattern or style of the sole to be out. In womens shoes, for example, standard length sizes vary by differences of 1 3 inch, while widths of such soles vary by differences of 1/16 inch, and a given sole width, for example, EE in a No. 6 sole does not correspond in actual measurement to that of an EE width in a No. 8 sole. Moreover mens sole sizes are different from womens sole sizes, while sole patterns vary with different manufacturers as to grade or length. Thus the width and length at least must be considered and treated as dependent variable factors in determined graduations of the scales on both gauge members. In order to adapt the adjusting mechanism and gauge members for use in cutting different ranges in widths and diiferent pattern sizes, a plurality of sets of interchangeable scales may be provided, each set having indicia appropriate to the intended pattern or style.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the gauge member 50 is provided with a scale graduated in integrals of the difference in width between the diiferent sizes of a given pattern, while the gauge member 51 is provided with a scale along its periphery graduated in multiples or fractions of integral widths corresponding to the same pattern, it being understood that the graduations may be designated by letters or numerals appropriate to the intended purpose.

If desired, a second fixed gauge 50 having;

graduations coordinated with those on the movable gauge 51 may be similarly mounted on the opposite side of the gauge 51 and cooperable therewith in a similar manner.

A complete revolution of the hand wheel 46 in either direction causes the stops 34 and 35 to travel toward or away from the path of the cutter a distance equal to the difference in width between consecutive integral sole sizes, or the distance between successive graduations on the scale of gauge member 50. Thus in order to set the stops for any designated sole width, .it is merely necessary to bring the proper multiple Width graduation on the gauge scale 51 into registry with the corresponding integral width graduation on the gauge scalefifi.

The particular Pattern shown 7n this embodiment consists of integra sizes designated by the numerals 008 to 12, andinultiple. or fractional sizes rated by the letters E, and M. Accordingly the gauge member 5% may be provided with two scales, one an E width and the other a EE width, and the gauge member may likewise be provided with an EEE scale and an M' is graduated scale. The disk gauge member 51 in multiple sizes corresponding to each of the scales on the gauge members 59 and 50 as shown in Fig. 5. In this particular pattern an 81. width corresponds in actual size to a GEE, a an M60 width, and accordingly each of the scales are arranged, relative to the disk gauge member 51, so that the actual corresponding widths are simultaneously indicated by the gauge members 50, 56 and 51.

When a single sole width is to be chopped from a given strip prepared in accordance with the invention set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 572,923, filed November l, 1931, the operator needs only to make the initial setting, and as the strip is an integral multiple of such width, it is only necessary to feed the strip to the machine in the usual manner to cut it to the best advantage. When, however, the leather been stripped to produce a combination of sole widths, the stops arefl st set to correspond with one of the specified widths and te specified number of soles are chopped out in the usual mann r, whereupon the tops are then quickly readjusted to a second position merely by manipulating the hand wheel as to bring the proper graduation of gauge scale 51 into registry with the proper graduation of gauge scale 58. Thus a quick and accurate resetting of the stops during the cutting operation may be made and soles having two or more different widths may be c t from the san e strip of leat--er without, as was previously necessary, laying aside the half-cut strip and either stopping the machine to make the necessary re' adjustment, or coming back later to the remnant which has been laid aside until the stops had been reset for the desired width.

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the adjusting mechanism is substantially previou sponding elements have the same reference characters aplied thereto. However the gauge de vice constitutes a detachable unit, comprising a bracket 60 which is'clamped or otherwise detach ably secured. in fixed position to the collar 47 described (the part 51 being ornitted)a' above rotatable disk gauge member 61 mounted on" a" stub shaft 62 carried by bracket'fio, and a fixed gauge 63, here shown as comprising a semi circu the same as that shownin the 15/ described embodiment and the corre'-- pinned or otherwise secured to the end of a shaft 45'.

The disk gauge 61 is provided with a scale along its periphery, graduated in integrals of the difference in width between consecutive pattern sizes, and the scale of gauge 63 is graduated in rnultiples'of'the integral widths'corresponding to the same pattern, t -e graduations of both scales coop ating to indicate th exact position or" the etc 1 lative to the path of the cutters to produce a sole whose. Width corresponds to the indicated pattern Preferably the scale or i ge member 63 is detachably secured thereto so permit interchangeability with other scales to be used with the scale or gauge 61.

The gear ratio and the pitch of. the screw shaft is such; rat tlie travel of the'stops' toward or away from the path. of the cutter conforms to e diiierence in width between integral or inu ple widths, as indicated by the graduations of both scales. The pattern shown in this particular embodiment is the same as that shown in the previously described embodiment. The c vle 61 is graduated in integral widths from 000 to and the fixed scale is graduated in multiples thereof designated by the letters E, EE, etc. It will be noted that when the graduation 8 registers with the graduation E the stops are then set for an 8E wid also a GEE, lEEE and an M00 width, all 01. which, as previously noted, correspond in actual width to a number 8E in this particular pattern. In order to change from one width size to another, it is merely necessary to rotate the crank to bring the specified integral width graduation on the movable scale; into registry with the proper multiple width graduation on the fixed scale.

As previously noted, both the fixed and movahle gauge meincers constitute a unit which may ce easily detached and interchanged" with" a'ny l having the same construction, each of which may he graduated of a plurality of similar units to conform with a different range of the same pattern, or av differentpattern style entirely it" understood that th'e inventionis not lim ited tothe particular indiciaon the gauge members. By reason or" the interchangeable character of the gauge members the change from one pattern to another is greatly simplified and the' time to'make such a change is greatly reduced.

From the foregoing it is evi'dentthat the appa ratus embodying my invention provides for the accurate and economical cutting ofleather in' tration only and that various changes injshape,

proportion and arrangements of parts, as well as substitution of equivalent herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit andscope' of the invention asset forthin the appendedclaims.

I claim: p

l. Ina sole blocking machine of'the'character escribed having a cutter block and a cutter movable in a fixed path toward and away from the cutter block, the combination of an adjustable stop spaced from the path of said cutter a'dise tance equal to the width of the sole to scout, mechanism for moving said stop toward or away elements for 7 those from the path of said cutter, and means comprising a fixed scale and a movable scale associated with said mechanism and cooperating ith the fixed scale for designating the position of said stop relative to the path of said cutter to produce a sole whose width corresponds to a predetermined pattern.

2. In a sole blocking machine of the character described having a cutter block and a cutter movable in a fixed path toward and away from the cutter block, the combination of an adjustable stop spaced from the path of said cutter a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, mechanism for moving said stop toward or away from the path of said cutter, and means comprising cooperating scales for designating the position of said stop relative to the path of said cutter to produce a sole whose width corresponds to a predetermined pattern, one of said scales being calibrated in integral pattern widths and the other scale being calibrated in multiple widths corresponding thereto.

3. In a sole blocking machine of the character described having a cutter block and a cutter movable in a fixed path toward and away from the cutter block, the combination of an adjustable stop spaced irom the path of said cutter a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, mechanism for moving said stop toward or away from the path of said cutter, and means comprising a fixed scale cooperating with a movable scale for designating the position of said stop relative to the path of said cutter to produce a sole whose width corresponds to a predetermined pattern size, said fixed scale being calibrated in pattern sizes, and said movable scale being calibrated in sole widths corresponding to the pattern sizes.

4. In a sole blocking machine of the character described having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination with an adjusting mechanism comprising a fixed guide and a slidable member mounted in said guide and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutter elements, of a fixed scale mounted adjacent to the path of movement of said slidable member, and a movable scale associated with said slidable member and cooperable with said fixed scale to designate the position of said stop to produce a sole whose width corresponds to a predetermined pattern size.

5. In a sole blocking machine of the character described having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination with an adjusting mechanism comprising guiding means and a movable member mounted in said guiding means and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, of means operative to designate the position of said stop relative to the path of said cutting elements to produce a sole whose width corresponds to a predetermined pattern size, said means comprising relatively movable scales associated with said movable member, one of said scales being calibrated in integral pattern sizes, and the other in multiple sizes corresponding thereto.

6. In a sole blocking machine of the character described having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination with an adjusting mechanism comprising a guide,

and a member mounted in said guide and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, of relatively movable scales associated with said adjusting mechanism, one of the scales being calibrated in integral pattern sizes and the other in multiples corresponding to the pattern sizes, said scales being operative to designate the position of said stop r lative to the path of said cutting elements to produce a sole whose width corresponds to selected pattern size.

7. In a sole blocking machine of the type having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination of an adjusting mechanism including a guide, a slide bar mounted in said guide and supporting said stopfor movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, and a screw shaft for moving said slide bar toward and away from said cutting elements, of relatively movable gauge members having cooperating scales graduated in integral and multiple widths of a selected pattern, said gauge members being actuated in response to movement of said slide bar and operative to designate the position of said stop relative to the path of said cutting elements, whereby a sole having a width corresponding to any of a plurality of widths within the range of said scales may be accurately cut from a sheet of stock.

8. In a sole blocking machine of the type having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination of an adjusting mechanism including a guide, a slide bar mounted in said guide and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, and a screw shaft for moving said slide bar toward and away from said cutting elements, cf relatively movable gauge members comprising a fixed scale and a movable scale disposed in cooperative relation thereto, said scales being graduated in integral and multiple widths corresponding to a selected pattern and operative to designate the position of said stop relative to the path of said cutting elements, whereby a sole having a width corresponding to any of a plurality of widths within the range of said scales may be accurately cut from a sheet of stock.

9. In a sole blocking machine of the type having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination of an adjusting mechanism including a guide, a slide bar mounted in said guide and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, and a screw shaft for moving said slide bar toward and away from said cutting elements, of cooperating gauge members operative to designate the position of stop relative to the path of said cutting elements, said gauge members comprising a fixed scale mounted adjacent to said slide bar and graduated in integral widths corresponding to a selected pattern,

and a movable scale mounted in said screw shaft and graduated in multiple widths corresponding to said pattern.

10. In a sole blocking machine of the type having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination of an adjusting mechanism including a guide, a slide bar mounted in said guide and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, and a screw shaft for moving said slide bar toward and away from said cutting elements, of a fixed gauge member having an elongate scale disposed adjacent to said slide bar and graduated in integral widths corresponding to a selected pattern, and a movable gauge member comprising a disk mounted on said screw shaft in cooperative relation to said fixed gauge member and having a scale along its periphery graduated in multiple widths corresponding to said pattern.

11. In a sole blocking machine of the type having a movable stop spaced from the path of the cutting elements a distance equal to the width of the sole to be cut, the combination of an adjusting mechanism including a guide, a slide bar mounted in said guide and supporting said stop for movement toward and away from the path of said cutting elements, and a screw shaft for moving said slide bar toward and away from said cutting elements, of cooperating gauge members operative to designate the position of said stop relative to the path of cutting elements, one of said gauge members comprising a disk rotatable by said screw shaft, said disk being graduated along its periphery in integral. widths corresponding to a selected pattern, the other of said gauge members comprising an arcuate element disposed in fixed concentric relation to said disk and graduated along its periphery in multiple widths corresponding to said pattern.

THORNDIKE D. HOWE, JR. 

